Joseph sits again; Ball ready to start if needed

Share this:

The Texans missed cornerback Johnathan Joseph for the second day of practice. They had expected Joseph to recover well enough from his sore groin to practice Thursday, but he still experienced some soreness.

“I strictly just listen to our trainers,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said on how he would decide whether or not Joseph would play. “Once you get going in a season in this league, you’re going to always use the word ‘nursing’ guys to Sunday, a lot of them because they play a lot of snaps. He played over 80 some snaps last week, and he’s had some soreness (with) this issue before and he’s been able to play through it and stuff.

“I’m sitting here thinking he’s going to be ready to go. As far as making the final decision, I got to listen to our doctors. If they think we’re risking something when we wake up on Sunday morning then you’ve got to move on.”

If Joseph can’t play, that could mean Alan Ball starts for him at corner.

“Alan can play,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “That’s what we brought him in for. He hasn’t played corner in a couple years so getting the technique stuff and I think he’s really getting it down better and better. He had two or three interceptions in practice today.”

Jean expects quick recovery
Lestar Jean walked with a heavy bandage, but no brace or crutches after having arthroscopic knee surgery this week.

Jean tore a piece of his lateral meniscus, but doesn’t expect to miss much time.

“It won’t be that long,” Jean said. “I don’t know exactly how long but it’s not going to be a long time. Just working hard in rehab. … I spent enough time in rehab last year on IR so I just have to get back on the field.”

Jean suffered the injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s game in Denver when making a block. He played the rest of the game with it.

Smith awaiting appeal hearing
Texans defensive lineman Antonio Smith as yet to have his appeal heard for a $21,000 fine he received for kicking Dolphins guard Richie Incognito in the head. Smith’s appeal was supposed to be heard Tuesday Sept. 18, but it was moved to Thursday Sept. 27 instead.

Meanwhile, the NFL heard the appeal of Broncos linebacker Joe Mays regarding his $50,000 fine and suspension for hitting Texans quarterback Matt Schaub high and with such force as to tear off his helmet.

The NFL upheld Mays’ suspension and fine.

Injury report
Jean was the only Texans player listed as having missed practice on Thursday’s injury report.

Twelve players were listed as probable, including guard Antoine Caldwell (ankle), safety Quintin Demps, who had thumb surgery this week, and running back Arian Foster, who was limited in Wednesday’s practice with what is listed as a knee injury.